Did you complete our 40-hour basic training in the past and now would like to again?  But perhaps signing up for another 40-hour training doesn’t fit into your life?  Our Mediation Refresher is the answer.

In this 20-hour training over 4 days, we will review the basic concepts and skills covered in our Basic Training in the Understanding Based Approach:

• Stages of mediation and what happens at each stage
• Positive neutrality – how to support all parties to a conflict without taking sides
• Enhancing understanding and empathy through the Loop of Understanding
• Developing creative options that address differing needs and interests
• Creating the groundwork for the parties to make effective and lasting decisions together now and in the future

We will also include self-reflection practices that we believe are the key to our Understanding Based approach and will change how you work.  Powerful emotional currents flow through us as professionals who work with conflict.  We size up our clients and carry judgments, frustrations and gut feelings about them in our bodies.  The frustration, exasperation, anger and other difficult emotions that are part of daily life in this field hold the key to a deeper connection to the parties who come to us.  And with connections come new more satisfying possibilities for resolving their conflicts

Fantastic!  This was exactly what I hoped it would be.  Once again, it helped me go deeper and learn even more in a safe space. This whole approach has been absolutely transformative for me professionally and I appreciate it so much! Thank you!”

– Lisa Rau, attendee of 2019 Mediation Refresher

Who Will Benefit from This Training?

This training is appropriate for anyone who has previously taken our 40-hour training, including mediators, lawyers, collaborative professionals, business consultants, executive coaches, managers and supervisors, human resources professionals, ombuds-people, non-profit staff, and others whose work is enhanced by increased skills in conflict resolution.

What is the Format of the Training?

The training combines presentations, teacher demonstrations, case simulations and discussions. Concise briefings reviewing the model and tools of the Understanding Based Approach alternate with demonstrations and role-plays designed to immerse the participants in the process. Central to the learning are real to life simulations in which the participants work through mediations from beginning to end. The participants have a chance to apply the concepts and skills introduced in the briefings, and to experience the emotional challenges faced by parties in dispute, with coaching from our teachers. Past participants have said these different modes of learning, and their interplay are as enjoyable as they are engaging and rewarding.

“Overall I found the program to be extremely effective and valuable to me on so many different levels professionally and personally. I felt it opening up many different opportunities for me and avenues for further learning and exploration. I have always hated role plays but was suprised to find that I actually enjoyed the role plays here and got a lot out of them when I played a party and a mediator. The specific feedback during the role plays was very well done by all instructors.”

– Lisa Auer, San Francisco

What are the Logistics – When, Where, Cost?

The training session will be conducted through Zoom. After registration, you will receive a separate e-mail with Zoom connection details.

Participants are encouraged to log on at least 10 minutes early to troubleshoot any technical issues and help ensure the programs can start on time every day.

Each session will begin at the times below, with several breaks during the day to allow for a rest from being online and for meals. The sessions end each day at 5:00 PM PST / 8:00 PM EST.

Friday, September 6, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm ET

Saturday, September 7, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm PT / 11:00 am – 8:00 pm ET

Friday, September 13, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm PT / 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm ET

Saturday, September 14, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm PT / 11:00 am – 8:00 pm ET

Cost

The program training fee is $975

Who are the Trainers?

Catherine Conner has been a mediation and collaborative practice trainer since 2004. She is a frequent presenter at collaborative conferences and family law workshops. She authored Collaborative Practice Materials with Steven Neustadter and Margaret Anderson. Catherine Conner’s private practice focuses on family law alternate dispute resolution, including mediation, collaborative practice, and private judging. She graduated from the UC Berkeley School of Law in 1982 and is a founding partner of Conner, Lawrence, Rodney, Olhiser & Barrett, LLP. In 1992, Catherine became a Certified Family Law Specialist.  She has been honored as the recipient of the Rex Sater Award for Excellence in Family Law, the Eureka award by Collaborative Practice California and was the 2018 honoree for Careers of Distinction.  She was on the Board of Directors of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals from 2007-2014 and served as the President in 2013. She has been a board member of the CUC since 2015,

Melanie Rowen is a mediator and conflict coach who believes in the power of understanding-based conflict resolution to transform our world. She frequently trains individuals and groups on effective communication in conflict situations and on creating inclusive environments, particularly around gender, sexual orientation, and disability. Melanie previously litigated civil rights cases, including marriage equality, employment discrimination, issues involving transgender and gender non-conforming youth and their families, and issues facing LGBTQ+ elders, at the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and served on the Board of Directors of the Transgender Law Center. Earlier in her career, she worked in business litigation at Latham & Watkins LLP, and for many years, she was the Associate Director for Public Interest Programs at UC Berkeley School of Law. Melanie currently works in attorney professional development at the Bay Area offices of a large law firm, and is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association for Law Placement. She has been a board member of the CUC since 2018.

Michelle Exline Minovi is a highly skilled divorce and family mediator with 12+ years family law experience.  As Managing Attorney at the legal services non-profit Ayuda in Washington, D.C., Michelle represented low-income and Spanish-speaking immigrant clients in complex matrimonial cases in the context of domestic violence. After moving to Brooklyn, Michelle litigated and won sole custody on behalf of a mother of two children who was forced to leave the ultra-orthodox community because she identified as queer. After three years of intense litigation, Michelle wondered if there was an alternative way to divorce. Michelle knew she had to pivot from litigation to mediation when she took her first mediation training at the Center for Understanding Conflict.

Cancellation Policy 

Please note our cancellation policy:  If you cancel 2 weeks or more prior to the program, your deposit will be returned minus a $250.00 administration fee.  Less than 2 weeks (but more than one week) prior to the program, we will retain 50% of the total cost of the program (half of which may be applied to against a future program). Please note that refunds are not made for cancellations within the last week prior to the program unless there is a replacement for your seat.

Is there Continuing Education Credit?

California 

The Center for Understanding in Conflict is a Multiple Activity Provider approved by the State Bar of California to provide California MCLE credit. The Mediation Refresher course will qualify for 20 participatory general credit hours. No credit hours are provided for subfields.

New York

In New York, the Mediation Refresher will fulfill 20 NY CLE credit hours (10 Professional Practice credits and 10 Skills credits).  For continuing legal education purposes, the Mediation Refresher is appropriate for both newly admitted and experienced attorneys.

The New York State Board of Continuing Legal Education requires that a financial aid policy be in place for all fee-based CLE courses if an attorney or attorneys are unable to attend due to cost considerations. Attorneys wishing to attend CLE Courses with the Center for Understanding in Conflict may apply for tuition assistance based on financial hardship. The request should include the course name, the individual’s current employment status or yearly income, and any other pertinent details regarding the person’s inability to pay.

PLEASE NOTE THAT REGISTRATIONS RECEIVED LESS THAN 72 HOURS PRIOR TO PROGRAM START WILL BE ACCEPTED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TRAINING TEAM DUE TO DEMANDS OF PREPARATION TIME AND ROLE PLAY ASSIGNMENTS.

For additional information, please email us at [email protected] or call us at (844) 242-3428.

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